WEBVTT WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, A NICE STRETCH OF WEATHER WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS RETURN NEXT WEEKEND. THEO: WITH ALL OF THE SUMMER SUN, COMES THE NEED TO KEEP YOUR SKIN SAFE. SO IT MAKES SENSE WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF MERCY MEDICAL CENTER’S MELANOMA AND SKIN CANCER CENTER DR. VADIM GUSHCHIN HERE WITH US. >> SUNSCREEN IS VERY USEFUL. IT PROTECTS US FROM SUN-RELATED DAMAGE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO APPLY CORRECTLY. IT IS EASY TO MISS SOME PORTION OF THE SKIN OR FACE, AND IT DOESN’T ALWAYS PROTECT US. THEO: HOW DO WE APPLY IT? VANESSA: WE READ -- DR. GUSHCHIN WE READ CAREFULLY THE INSTRUCTIONS AND REAPPLY IF NEEDED. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF. AVOID DIRECT SUNLIGHT BETWEEN 10:00 AND 4:00. DON’T TAKE OUT YOUR KIDS DURING THIS TIME. PLAN THE DAY WELL TO AVOID THIS DIRECT SUNLIGHT. THEO: YOU SAY START EARLY WITH THE KIDS BECAUSE SKIN CANCER IS OFTEN DELAYED, YOU DON’T SEE IT UNTIL LATER IN LIFE? DR. GUSHCHIN: THE SUN DAMAGE THAT LEADS TO MELANOMA HAPPENS BEFORE THE AGE OF 15. FOR US, IT IS TOO LATE TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM MELANOMA.MAY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION . THEO: AND DARKER SKIN DOES NOT PROTECT YOU NECESSARILY? DR. GUSHCHIN: NOT 100%. PEOPLE WITH NORTHERN EUROPEAN HERITAGE ARE MORE PRONE TO SUN DAMAGE AND MELANOMA, BUT DARKER SKIN IS NOT 100% PROTECTION. THEO: IF YOU SEE A SPOT, AT WHAT POINT SHOULD YOU GO IN? DR. GUSHCHIN: IF IT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS DO YOU, THERE’S PROBABLY SOMETHING TO IT. GO TO A DERMATOLOGIST AND POSSIBLY ASSESS FOR A BIOPSY THEO: SKIN CANCER, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE THIS. DR. GUSHCHIN: UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON SKIN CONDIT